Electronic device, control method, and control program

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a display unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays a character string or an image. The detection unit detects contact with the display unit. In a state where a character string or a image is displayed on the display unit, in a case in which the detection unit detects contact with the character string or the image, the control unit causes at least a part of the character string or the image to be selected in accordance with such detection. The control unit activates a different function in accordance with a condition of contact with the character string or the image when the character string or the image is selected. Furthermore, the control unit causes the character string or the image thus selected to be utilized in the function thus activated.

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-105723, filed on 10 May 2011, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device including a touchpanel, a control method for the electronic device, and a control programof the electronic device.

2. Related Art

A cellular telephone device as an example of an electronic deviceincludes an operation unit and a display unit. The operation unitincludes a plurality of numeric keys, with which a character string canbe input. The display unit displays the character string thus input.

For example, some of such cellular telephone devices activate anapplication (a function) when a predetermined operation is performed ina state where a character is displayed on the display unit as a resultof operating the numeric keys. When an application is activated, thecellular telephone device causes the application to execute processingregarding the character string displayed on the display unit (JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2007-200243).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When an application (a function) is activated in the mobile telephonedevice described above, the operation unit had to be operated to selectthe application. However, an application is desired to be easilyactivated with a small number of operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic devicethat easily activates a function with a small number of operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control methodof the electronic device, and a control program executed in theelectronic device.

An electronic device of the present invention is characterized byincluding a display unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. Thedisplay unit displays a character string or an image. The detection unitdetects contact with the display unit. In a state where a characterstring or an image is displayed on the display unit, in a case in whichthe detection unit detects contact with the character string or theimage, the control unit causes at least a part of the character stringor the image to be selected in accordance with such detection. Thecontrol unit activates a different function in accordance with acondition of contact when the character string or the image is selected.The control unit causes the character string or the image thus selectedto be utilized in the function thus activated.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string or the imageis selected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit,it is preferable for the control unit to activate a different functionin accordance with a moving direction of the contact.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string or the imageis selected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit,it is preferable for the control unit to activate a different functionin accordance with a moving speed of the contact.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string or the imageis selected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit,it is preferable for the control unit to activate a different functionin accordance with a length of time required since selecting thecharacter string or the image until releasing the contact with thecharacter string or the image.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string or the imageis selected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit,it is preferable for the control unit to activate a further differentfunction in accordance with an area of displaying the character stringor the image on the display unit where the contact was detected.

It is preferable for the control unit to activate a further differentfunction in accordance with whether an object selected in accordancewith detecting the contact by the detection unit is a character stringor an image.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string is selectedin accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit in a statewhere the character string is displayed on the display unit, it ispreferable for the control unit to activate a further different functionin accordance with a type of the character string thus selected.

In a case in which at least a part of the character string is selectedin accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit in a statewhere the character string is displayed on the display unit, it ispreferable for the control unit to activate a further different functionin accordance with whether the character string thus selected is anumeric character string or a character string other than the numericcharacter string.

In a case in which at least a partial area of an image is selected inaccordance with detecting contact by the detection unit in a state wherethe image is displayed on the display unit, it is preferable for thecontrol unit to activate a further different function in accordance withwhether the partial area is which partial area of the image thusdisplayed.

A control method of the present invention is characterized by including:a detecting step of detecting contact with a character string or animage displayed on a display unit; a selecting step of selecting atleast a part of the character string or the image in accordance withdetecting the contact with the character string or the image displayedon the display unit; and an activating step of activating a differentfunction in accordance with a condition of contact when the characterstring or the image is selected, and utilizing the character string orthe image thus selected in the function thus activated.

A control program of the present invention is characterized by being acontrol program for causing a computer to implement: a detecting step ofdetecting contact with a character string or an image displayed on adisplay unit; a selecting step of selecting at least a part of thecharacter string or the image in accordance with detecting the contactwith the character string or the image displayed on the display unit;and an activating step of activating a different function in accordancewith a condition of contact when the character string or the image isselected, and utilizing the character string or the image thus selectedin the function thus activated.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily activate afunction with a small number of operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a mobile telephonedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of themobile telephone device;

FIG. 3 is a first transition diagram showing a screen displayed on atouch panel;

FIG. 4 is a second transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a first specificexample;

FIG. 6 is a third transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 7 is a fourth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 8 is a fifth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 9 is a sixth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 10 is a seventh transition diagram showing a screen displayed onthe touch panel;

FIG. 11 is an eighth transition diagram showing a screen displayed onthe touch panel;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a third specificexample;

FIG. 13 is a ninth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 14 is a tenth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a fifth specificexample; and

FIG. 16 is an eleventh transition diagram showing a screen displayed onthe touch panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Descriptions are provided hereinafter regarding an embodiment of thepresent invention. First of all, with reference to FIG. 1, descriptionsare provided for a basic structure of a mobile telephone device 1according to an embodiment of the electronic device of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of themobile telephone device 1 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

The mobile telephone device 1 includes a body 2. A touch panel 10, amicrophone 13 and a receiver 14 are disposed on a front face of the body2.

The touch panel 10 includes a display unit 11 and a detection unit 12(see FIG. 2). The display unit 11 is composed of liquid crystals ororganic electroluminescence elements. The detection unit 12 detects atouch by an object, such as a finger or stylus of a user of the mobiletelephone device 1, on the display unit 11. The detection unit 12 iscorrespondingly disposed on a surface of the display unit 11. Forexample, a capacitive sensing method, a resistive film method or thelike can be utilized in the detection unit 12.

The microphone 13 is used for inputting sound produced by the user ofthe mobile telephone device 1 during a telephone call.

The receiver 14 is used for outputting sound produced by the other partywhom the user of the mobile telephone device 1 is talking with.

Next, a functional configuration of the mobile telephone device 1 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showingthe functional configuration of the mobile telephone device 1.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the touch panel 10 (the displayunit 11 and the detection unit 12), the microphone 13 and the receiver14, as described above. The mobile telephone device 1 includes acommunication unit 15, a storage unit 16, and a control unit 17.

The communication unit 15 includes a main antenna (not shown), an RFcircuit unit (not shown) and the like. The communication unit 15performs communication with an external device such a base station via apredetermined usable frequency band.

More specifically, the communication unit 15 executes demodulationprocessing on a signal received via the main antenna. The communicationunit 15 transmits the signal thus processed to the control unit 17.

The communication unit 15 executes modulation processing on a signaltransmitted from the control unit 17. The communication unit 15transmits the signal thus processed to the external device (the basestation) via the main antenna.

The storage unit 16 includes, for example, working memory. The storageunit 16 is utilized for arithmetic processing by the control unit 17.The storage unit 16 stores applications or databases that are operatedinside the mobile telephone device 1. The storage unit 16 may also serveas detachable external memory.

The control unit 17 controls the entirety of the mobile telephone device1, and performs control of the display unit 11 and the communicationunit 15.

The mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration has a functionof easily activating an application with a small number of operations.Descriptions are hereinafter provided for a configuration and operationsfor achieving the aforementioned function according to the mobiletelephone device 1.

The display unit 11 displays a character string or an image. A characterstring is composed of at least one of a hiragana character, a katakanacharacter, a kanji character, an alphabetic character, a numericcharacter, a symbol and a pictogram. A character string may be composedof a single character, and may also be composed of a plurality ofcharacters. A character string and an image are displayed on the displayunit 11, as a result of receiving mail via the communication unit 15, orbrowsing a web site. A character string may be displayed on the displayunit 11, as a result of operating a character input key as a soft keydisposed on the display unit 11. An image is displayed on the displayunit 11, as a result of taking a picture of a subject by utilizing acamera unit (not shown). An image may be a static image, and may also bea moving image. A character string and an image may be displayed on thedisplay unit 11 with any method other than the methods described above.

In a state where a character string or an image is displayed on thedisplay unit 11, in a case in which the detection unit 12 detectscontact with the character string or the image, the control unit 17executes processing as follows. More specifically, the control unit 17causes at least a part of the character string or the image to beselected in accordance with detecting the contact. The control unit 17activates a different function in accordance with a condition of contactwith the character string or the image when the character string or theimage is selected. The control unit 17 causes the character string orthe image thus selected to be utilized in the function thus activated.

Selecting at least a part of a character string means sweeping the partof the character string displayed on the display unit 11 with a fingeror the like, thereby selecting the character string thus swept with thefinger or the like. Selecting at least a part of an image means touchingthe part of the image displayed on the display unit 11 with a finger orthe like, thereby selecting the image thus touched with the finger orthe like.

The control unit 17 activates a different function in accordance with acondition of contact when the character string or the image is selected.A condition of contact is a situation of sweeping the touch panel 10with a finger or the like in a direction from right to left or from leftto right, a situation of touching the touch panel 10 with a finger orthe like at a constant speed, and a situation of continuously touchingthe touch panel 10 with a finger or the like for certain duration.

The control unit 17 may determine a manner of selecting a characterstring or an image in accordance with the condition of contact with thecharacter string or the image. The control unit 17 activates a differentfunction in accordance with the manner of selecting the character stringor the image. The control unit 17 may cause the character string or theimage thus selected to be utilized in the function thus activated. Thecontrol unit 17 determines a manner of selecting a character string oran image in accordance with a condition of contact such as, for example,sweeping the character string or the image displayed on the display unit11 with a finger or the like in the direction from right to left or fromleft to right. The control unit 17 determines a manner of selecting acharacter string or an image in accordance with a condition of contactsuch as sweeping the character string or the image displayed on thedisplay unit 11 with a finger or the like at a speed of at least apredetermined value or at a speed under the predetermined value. Thecontrol unit 17 determines a manner of selecting a character string oran image, in accordance with a condition of contact after sweeping thecharacter string or the image displayed on the display unit 11 with afinger or the like, such as quitting the sweeping after a predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed, or quitting the sweeping before thepredetermined period of time has elapsed. The manners of selecting acharacter string or an image are not limited to the examples describedabove.

Activating a different function means, for example, changing anapplication to be activated. Specific examples of activating a differentfunction include activating a mail application, activating an addressbook application, activating a web application, or the like, inaccordance with a manner of selection.

Causing a selected character string to be utilized means, for example,causing the selected character string to be input into a character inputarea of the mail application, the address book application or the webapplication, and to be displayed on the display unit 11. Causing aselected image to be utilized means, for example, attaching the selectedimage to the mail application, or registering the selected image withthe address book.

The mobile telephone device 1, which includes the display unit 11, thecontrol unit 17 and the like, performs a detecting step, a selectingstep, and an activating step. In the detecting step, contact with acharacter string or an image displayed on the display unit 11 isdetected by utilizing the detection unit 12. In the selecting step, atleast a part of the character string or the image displayed on thedisplay unit 11 is selected in accordance with detecting the contactwith the character string or the image. In the activating step, adifferent function is activated in accordance with a condition ofcontact when the character string or the image is selected. In theactivating step, the character string or the image thus selected iscaused to be utilized in the function thus activated. The mobiletelephone device 1 includes a program for causing the control unit 17and the like to execute the steps (operations) described above. Such amobile telephone device 1 can easily activate a function with a smallnumber of operations.

It is preferable for the control unit 17 to activate a further differentfunction in accordance with whether an object selected in accordancewith detecting the contact by the detection unit 12 is a characterstring or an image. In a case in which a character string is selected,the control unit 17 activates a function capable of inputting thecharacter string thus selected (for example, a mail function (the mailapplication), a web function (the web application), a text function (atext application)). In a case in which an image is selected, the controlunit 17 activates a function capable of registering the image thusselected (for example, the mail function (the mail application) and thelike). As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can activate afunction in accordance with a character string or an image.

In a case in which at least a part of a character string is selected inaccordance with detecting contact by the detection unit 12 in a statewhere the character string is displayed on the display unit 11, it ispreferable for the control unit 17 to execute processing as follows.More specifically, it is preferable for the control unit 17 to activatea further different function in accordance with a type of the characterstring thus selected. For example, in a case in which the selectedcharacter string is composed of numeric characters only, the controlunit 17 activates a telephone function (telephone application). Thecontrol unit 17 sets the selected character string (the numericcharacters) as a telephone number. In a case in which the selectedcharacter string is composed of alphabetic characters only, or in a casein which the selected character string is composed of alphabeticcharacters and numeric characters, or in a case in which the selectedcharacter string is composed of alphabetic characters and symbols (colon(:), slash (/) or period (.)), the control unit 17 activates the webfunction (the web application). The control unit 17 sets the selectedcharacter string as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). As a result, themobile telephone device 1 can activate a function in accordance with atype of characters composing a character string.

Next, specific examples are described. First of all, a first specificexample is described. FIG. 3 is a first transition diagram showing ascreen displayed on the touch panel 10. FIG. 4 is a second transitiondiagram showing a screen displayed on the touch panel 10.

In a case in which at least a part of a character string or an image isselected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit 12,it is preferable for the control unit 17 to activate a differentfunction in accordance with a moving direction of the contact.

For example, an example is described for a case in which a characterstring “Kantan Keitai (easy mobile telephone) model KD80 is now on salefrom a company A” is displayed on the touch panel 10 (the display unit11) (see FIG. 3A). In this case, when a character string that is desiredto be selected is swept with a finger in the direction from right toleft (see FIG. 3B), thereby selecting a katakana character string“Keitai (mobile telephone)” (see FIG. 3C), then the control unit 17executes processing as follows. More specifically, the control unit 17activates the text function (the text application), in which theselected katakana character string “Keitai” is input into a characterinput area. The control unit 17 causes the display unit 11 to performdisplaying (see FIG. 3D).

On the other hand, in a case in which the character string “KantanKeitai (easy mobile telephone) model KD80 is now on sale from a companyA” is displayed on the touch panel (the display unit 11) (see FIG. 4A),when a character string that is desired to be selected is swept with thefinger in the direction from left to right (see FIG. 4B), therebyselecting the katakana character string “Keitai (mobile telephone)” (seeFIG. 4C), then the control unit 17 executes processing as follows. Morespecifically, the control unit 17 activates the address book function(the address book application), in which the selected katakana characterstring “Keitai” is input into the character input area. The control unit17 causes the display unit 11 to perform displaying (see FIG. 4D).

Here, the control unit 17 may activate a different function inaccordance with whether the direction is a forward direction or areverse direction in terms of the direction of the character stringdisplayed on the display unit 11.

Functions to be activated are set in advance. Therefore, the functionsto be activated are not limited to the examples described above.

In consideration of a case in which a wrong range was selected with afinger, the control unit 17 can cancel the selection of the characterstring when returning from a screen for an activated function to ascreen for selecting a character string.

Next, operations of the first specific example are described. FIG. 5 isa flowchart illustrating the operations of the first specific example.

In Step S101, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects that a contact object such as a finger or astylus touches the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11).

In Step S102, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects an ending point of sweeping by the contactobject on the touch panel 10. The control unit 17 may detect an endingpoint when the contact is released. The control unit 17 may detect anending point when the contact is detected at the same position forpredetermined duration.

In Step S103, based on the result of detection in Step S101 and theresult of detection in Step S102, the control unit 17 identifies amoving direction (a dragging direction) of the contact object thattouched the touch panel 10. The control unit 17 identifies a characterstring or an image that was selected, based on the result of detectionin Step S101, the result of detection in Step S102, and positioninformation about a character string or an image displayed on the touchpanel 10.

In Step S104, the control unit 17 determines whether the draggingdirection identified by the processing in Step S103 is a right direction(movement in the direction from left to right). In a case in which thedragging direction is the direction to the right (YES), the processingadvances to Step S105. In a case in which the dragging direction is notthe direction to the right (NO), the processing advances to Step S106.

In Step S105, the control unit 17 activates the first application (thefirst function) associated with dragging in the direction to the right.The control unit 17 causes a character string to be input into acharacter input area, or causes an image to be input into an image inputarea. The control unit 17 causes the display unit 11 to performdisplaying. The control unit 17 may automatically activate the firstapplication (the first function) upon detecting an ending point.

In Step S106, the control unit 17 activates a second application (asecond function) associated with dragging in a direction to the left,the second application being different from the first application. Thecontrol unit 17 causes a character string to be input into a characterinput area, or causes an image to be input into an image input area. Thecontrol unit 17 causes the display unit 11 to perform displaying. Thecontrol unit 17 may automatically activate the second application (thesecond function) upon detecting an ending point. Here, the control unit17 may activate a different function in accordance with whether thedirection is a forward direction or a reverse direction in terms of thedirection of the character string displayed on the display unit 11.

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select anapplication to be activated, simply by changing the direction ofsweeping with a finger or the like. The mobile telephone device 1 caneasily activate an application with a small number of operations.

FIG. 6 is a third transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel 10. FIG. 7 is a fourth transition diagram showing a screendisplayed on the touch panel 10. For example, in a case in which acharacter string composed of only numeric characters is selected bysweeping the touch panel 10 (display unit 11) with the finger in thedirection from right to left (see FIG. 6A), the control unit 17activates the address book function (the address book application). Thecontrol unit 17 causes the character string thus selected to be inputinto a telephone number input area of the address book function (theaddress book application) thus activated. The control unit 17 causes thedisplay unit 11 to perform displaying (see FIG. 6B). On the other hand,in a case in which a character string composed of only numericcharacters is selected by sweeping the touch panel 10 (display unit 11)with the finger in the direction from left to right (see FIG. 7A), thecontrol unit 17 activates the telephone function (the telephoneapplication). In the telephone function (telephone application) thusactivated, the control unit 17 causes the display unit 11 to display thecharacter string as a telephone number for an outgoing call (see FIG.7B). The control unit 17 may subsequently automatically make an outgoingcall to the character string thus displayed.

FIG. 8 is a fifth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel 10. In a case in which a character string is composed of aplurality of lines, the control unit 17 may allow the character stringto be swept with a finger or the like in a direction from top to bottomon the display unit 11, or may allow the character string to be sweptwith a finger or the like in a direction from bottom to top on thedisplay unit 11. In this case as well, the control unit 17 activates adifferent function in accordance with the moving direction of a fingeror the like. For example, an example is described for a case in which acharacter string “Kantan Keitai (easy mobile telephone) is now on salefrom a company A” is displayed in a plurality of lines on the touchpanel 10 (the display unit 11) (see FIG. 8A). In this case, when thecharacter string is swept (dragged) with a finger starting from acharacter “ka” in the head of the character string “Kantan” displayed inthe first line toward a character “i” in the tail of the characterstring “Keitai” displayed in the second line (in a direction from anupper portion toward a lower portion of the touch panel 10) (see FIG.8B), the control unit 17 recognizes that the character string “KantanKeitai” ranging from the character “ka” to the character “i” wasselected (see FIG. 8C). The control unit 17 activates the address bookfunction associated with the moving direction of a finger (here, thedirection from top to bottom). The control unit 17 causes the selectedcharacter string “Kantan Keitai” to be input into the character inputarea of the address book function. Subsequently, the control unit 17causes the display unit 11 to perform displaying (see FIG. 8D).

FIG. 9 is a sixth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel 10. Not only in a case in which a character string isselected, but also in a case in which at least a part of an image isselected, the control unit 17 can activate a different function inaccordance with a moving direction of the contact with the image. Forexample, in a case in which an image is displayed on the touch panel 10(the display unit 11), when the image is swept (selected) with a fingerin the direction from right to left, the control unit 17 executesprocessing as follows (see FIG. 9A). More specifically, the control unit17 activates the address book function associated with the movingdirection of a finger. The control unit 17 registers the selected imagewith the address book (see FIG. 9B).

In a case in which a plurality of images are displayed on the touchpanel 10 (the display unit 11), when at least one of the images isselected by being touched with a finger or the like (or being swept witha finger or the like), the control unit 17 executes a function asfollows. More specifically, the control unit 17 executes a function inaccordance with a moving direction of contact with the image thusselected.

The control unit 17 can calculate an average gray value of the imagewithin a range that was swept with a finger (a moving range of thecontact), and can activate a different function in accordance withwhether the average gray value thus calculated is higher or lower thanan average gray value of the image displayed on the touch panel 10.

The control unit 17 can also identify an object such as a persondepicted in the image, and activate a function in accordance with acontour of the object when the contour is touched.

FIG. 10 is a seventh transition diagram showing a screen displayed onthe touch panel 10. In a case in which a plurality of at least parts ofa character string or an image are selected, the control unit 17 canactivate a different function in accordance with a moving direction ofthe contact. For example, an example is described for a case in whichcharacter strings “1. Company A”, “2. Company B”, “3. Company C”, “A.mobile phone” and “B. PHS” are displayed on the touch panel 10 (thedisplay unit 11) (see FIG. 10A). In this case, first of all, “Company A”is selected by sweeping the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11) with afinger (see FIG. 10B). Next, “PHS” is selected by sweeping the touchpanel 10 with the finger again within a predetermined period of timeafter detaching the finger or the like from the touch panel 10 once (seeFIG. 10C). At this time, the control unit 17 activates the web function,and executes a web search by using “Company A” and “PHS” as search words(see FIG. 10D).

The control unit 17 may activate a different function in accordance witha moving direction of initial contact (sweeping “Company A” in the aboveexample). The control unit 17 may activate a different function inaccordance with a moving direction of final contact (sweeping “PHS” inthe above example). The control unit 17 may activate a differentfunction in accordance with a direction of movement, in a case in whichall of the contact (sweeping “Company A” and “PHS” in the above example)move in the same direction. The control unit 17 can activate apredetermined function, in a case in which a plurality of characterstrings are selected at the same time (when “Company A” and “PHS” areswept at the same time in the above example).

Next, a second specific example is described. FIG. 11 is an eighthtransition diagram showing a screen displayed on the touch panel 10.

In a case in which at least a part of a character string or an image isselected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit 12,it is preferable for the control unit 17 to activate a differentfunction in accordance with a moving speed of the contact with thecharacter string or the image. For example, a threshold value is set inadvance in the control unit 17. When the touch panel 10 is swept with afinger to select a character string displayed on the touch panel 10 (thedisplay unit 11), in a case in which a sweeping speed per character onthe touch panel 10 is at least the threshold value, the control unit 17activates the first function (the first application). On the other hand,in a case in which a sweeping speed per character on the touch panel 10is below the threshold value, the control unit 17 activates the secondfunction (the second application) different from the first function.

As a specific example, descriptions are provided for a case in which acharacter string “ . . . 09012315678 . . . ” is displayed on the touchpanel 10 (the display unit 11) (see FIG. 11A). In this case, when thecharacter string “09012315678” is swept with a finger in the directionfrom left to right (see FIG. 11B), in a case in which the moving speedof the finger per character is at least the threshold value, the controlunit 17 activates the address book function (the address bookapplication). The control unit 17 causes the character string“09012315678” thus selected to be input into the character input area ofthe address book application thus activated. The control unit 17 causesthe touch panel 10 to perform displaying (see FIG. 11C).

On the other hand, in a state where the character string “. . .09012315678 . . . ” is displayed on the touch panel 10 (the display unit11) (see FIG. 11A), when the character string “09012315678” is sweptwith a finger in the direction from left to right (see FIG. 11B), in acase in which the moving speed of the finger per character is below thethreshold value, the control unit 17 activates the telephone function(the telephone application). The control unit 17 causes the touch panel10 to display the selected character string “09012315678” as a telephonenumber for an outgoing call (see FIG. 11D). The control unit 17 maysubsequently automatically make an outgoing call to the character stringthus displayed.

The direction of sweeping with a finger (the moving direction ofcontact) is not limited to the example described above, and may be thedirection from right to left. In a case in which a character string iscomposed of a plurality of lines, the direction of sweeping with afinger may be a vertical direction.

A plurality of character strings or images may be selected.

A plurality of threshold values can be set. In this case, the controlunit 17 activates any one of three or more functions in accordance witha moving speed.

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select anapplication to be activated, simply by changing a speed of sweeping witha finger or the like. The mobile telephone device 1 can easily activatean application with a small number of operations.

Next, a third specific example is described. In a case in which at leasta part of a character string or an image is selected in accordance withdetecting contact by the detection unit 12, it is preferable for thecontrol unit 17 to activate a different function in accordance withtraveling time of the contact with the character string or the image.For example, a threshold value is set in advance in the control unit 17.When a finger is touched on the touch panel 10 to select a characterstring displayed on the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11), in a casein which duration from touching the finger on the touch panel 10 untildetaching the finger from the touch panel 10 is greater than thethreshold value, the control unit 17 activates the first function (thefirst application). On the other hand, in a case in which the durationfrom touching the finger on the touch panel 10 until detaching thefinger from the touch panel 10 is smaller than the threshold value, thecontrol unit 17 activates the second function (the second application)different from the first function.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of the third specificexample.

In Step S201, dragging time as the aforementioned threshold value is setin the control unit 17.

In Step S202, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects that a contact object such as a finger or astylus touches the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11).

In Step S203, a timer (not shown) starts timing when the contact of thecontact object was detected in Step S202,

In Step S204, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects an ending point of sweeping by the contactobject on the touch panel 10. The control unit 17 may detect an endingpoint when the contact is released. The control unit 17 may detect anending point when the contact is detected at the same position forpredetermined duration.

In Step S205, the timer terminates the timing when the ending point ofthe contact was detected in Step S204.

In Step S206, the control unit 17 obtains traveling time (measured time)of the contact object, based on initiation of the timing by theprocessing in Step S203, and termination of the timing by the processingin Step S205. The control unit 17 determines whether the measured timethus obtained is longer than the dragging time (set time) that was setin Step S201. In a case in which the measured time is longer than theset time (YES), the processing advances to Step S207. In a case in whichthe measured time is shorter than the set time (NO), the processingadvances to Step S208.

In Step S207, the control unit 17 activates the first application (thefirst function). The control unit 17 causes a character string to beinput into a character input area, or causes an image to be input intoan image input area, and causes the display unit 11 to performdisplaying. The control unit 17 may automatically activate the firstapplication (the first function) upon detecting an ending point.

In Step S208, the control unit 17 activates the second application (thesecond function) different from the first application. The control unit17 causes a character string to be input into a character input area, orcauses an image to be input into an image input area, and causes thedisplay unit 11 to perform displaying. The control unit 17 mayautomatically activate the second application (the second function) upondetecting an ending point.

A plurality of threshold values can be set. In this case, the controlunit 17 activates any one of three or more functions in accordance withtraveling time.

A plurality of character strings or images can be selected.

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select anapplication to be activated, simply by changing duration of sweepingwith a finger or the like. The mobile telephone device 1 can easilyactivate an application with a small number of operations.

Next, a fourth specific example is described. In a case in which atleast a part of a character string or an image is selected in accordancewith detecting contact by the detection unit 12, it is preferable forthe control unit 17 to activate a different function in accordance witha length of time required since selecting the character string or theimage until releasing the contact with the character string or theimage.

For example, in a case in which the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11)is swept with a finger to select a character string or an image, thecontrol unit 17 determines whether the duration from terminating thesweeping on the touch panel 10 until detaching the finger from the touchpanel 10 is at least a preset threshold value. In a case in which theduration is at least the threshold value, the control unit 17 activatesthe first function (the first application). On the other hand, in a casein which the duration is below the threshold value, the control unit 17activates the second function (the second application) different fromthe first function.

More specifically, based on a result of detection by the detection unit12, the control unit 17 detects that a contact object such as a fingeror a stylus touches the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11), andthereafter detects movement of the contact object; furthermore, when thecontrol unit 17 detects that the movement of the contact object ceased,the control unit 17 causes the timer (not shown) to start timing. Whenthe control unit 17 detects that the contact object is detached from thetouch panel 10 based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 causes the timer to stop the timing. The controlunit 17 determines whether the duration (the measured time) measured bythe timer is at least the threshold value. In a case in which themeasured time is at least the threshold value, the control unit 17activates the first function. In a case in which the measured time isbelow the threshold value, the control unit 17 activates the secondfunction.

A plurality of threshold values can be set. In this case, the controlunit 17 activates any one of three or more functions in accordance withmeasured time.

A plurality of character strings or images can be selected.

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select anapplication to be activated, simply by changing duration of touching thetouch panel 10. The mobile telephone device 1 can easily activate anapplication with a small number of operations.

Next, a fifth specific example is described. FIG. 13 is a ninthtransition diagram showing a screen displayed on the touch panel 10.FIG. 14 is a tenth transition diagram showing a screen displayed on thetouch panel 10.

In a case in which at least a part of a character string or an image isselected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit 12,it is preferable for the control unit 17 to activate a further differentfunction in accordance with an area of displaying the character stringor the image on the display unit 11 where the contact was detected.

In the fifth specific example, a length of the character string to beselected exceeds a text length that can be concurrently displayed on thedisplay unit 11. More specifically, the character string to be selectedis sequentially displayed on the display unit 11 by scrolling thescreen. In this case, the screen displayed on the display unit 11 isvertically divided into two areas (an upper screen area and a lowerscreen area), and in a case in which a character string displayed in anyone of the areas is selected, the control unit 17 activates a differentfunction in accordance with the area where the selected character stringis displayed.

For example, in a case in which a character string “09012345678”displayed in the upper screen area is selected by being swept with afinger in the direction from left to right (see FIG. 13A), the controlunit 17 executes processing as follows. More specifically, the controlunit 17 activates the telephone function (the telephone application)associated with the upper screen area. The control unit 17 sets theselected character string as a telephone number for an outgoing call(see FIG. 13B). On the other hand, in a case in which a character string“09012345678” displayed in the lower screen area is selected by beingswept with a finger in the direction from left to right (see FIG. 14A),the control unit 17 executes processing as follows. More specifically,the control unit 17 activates the address book function (the addressbook application) associated with the lower screen area. The controlunit 17 causes the selected character string to be input into thecharacter input area, and causes the display unit 11 to performdisplaying (see FIG. 14B).

The direction of sweeping with a finger (the moving direction ofcontact) is not limited to the example described above, and may be thedirection from right to left. In a case in which a character stringcomposed of a plurality of lines is selected, the direction of sweepingwith a finger may be a vertical direction. Moreover, a plurality ofcharacter strings or images may be selected.

Next, operations of the fifth specific example are described. FIG. 15 isa flowchart illustrating the operations of the fifth specific example.

In Step S301, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects that a contact object such as a finger or astylus touches the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11).

In Step S302, based on a result of detection by the detection unit 12,the control unit 17 detects an ending point of sweeping (dragging) bythe contact object on the touch panel 10. The control unit 17 may detectan ending point when the contact is released. The control unit 17 maydetect an ending point when the contact is detected at the same positionfor predetermined duration.

In Step S303, the control unit 17 determines whether a starting point ofthe contact (dragging) by the contact object detected in Step S301 is inan upper portion (the upper screen area) of the display unit 11. In acase in which the starting point of the dragging is in the upper portionof the display unit 11 (YES), the processing advances to Step S304. In acase in which the starting point of the dragging is not in the upperportion of the display unit 11 (NO), the processing advances to StepS305.

In Step S304, the control unit 17 activates the first application (thefirst function) associated with the upper screen area. The control unit17 causes a character string to be input into a character input area, orcauses an image to be input into an image input area, and causes thedisplay unit 11 to perform displaying. The control unit 17 mayautomatically activate the first application (the first function) upondetecting an ending point.

In Step S305, the control unit 17 activates the second application (thesecond function) associated with the lower screen area, the secondapplication being different from the first application. The control unit17 causes a character string to be input into a character string inputarea, or causes an image to be input into an image input area, andcauses the display unit 11 to perform displaying. The control unit 17may automatically activate the second application (the second function)upon detecting an ending point.

The areas associated with the applications to be activated are notlimited to the example (the upper screen area and the lower screen area)described above, and may be three or more areas.

The control unit 17 may activate a different function in accordance withwhether the ending point of the contact (dragging) is in the upperscreen area or in the lower screen area.

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select anapplication to be activated, simply by changing a starting point ofsweeping with a finger or the like. The mobile telephone device 1 caneasily activate an application with a small number of operations.

Next, a sixth specific example is described. FIG. 16 is an eleventhtransition diagram showing a screen displayed on the touch panel 10.

In a case in which at least a part of an image is selected in accordancewith detecting contact by the detection unit 12 in a state where theimage is displayed on the display unit 11, it is preferable for thecontrol unit 17 to execute processing as follows. More specifically, thecontrol unit 17 activates a further different function in accordancewith whether a partial area is which partial area of the displayedimage.

For example, in a case in which an image is divided into four areas (anupper right area, an upper left area, a lower left area, and a lowerright area), the control unit 17 determines which area is touched by acontact object such as a finger or a stylus, based on a result ofdetection by the detection unit 12. The control unit 17 activates afunction associated with the area that is touched by the contact object.

As a specific example, an image displayed on the touch panel 10 (thedisplay unit 11) is divided into four areas (the upper right area, theupper left area, the lower left area, the and lower right area). Afunction of storing an image is assigned to the upper right area. Afunction of attaching an image is assigned to the upper left area. Afunction of setting an image as wall paper is assigned to the lower leftarea. A function of registering an image is assigned to the lower rightarea. In a case in which a finger touches the lower right area of theimage (see FIG. 16A), the control unit 17 determines which area (here,the lower right area) is touched, based on a result of detection by thedetection unit 12. The control unit 17 activates a function assigned tothe lower right area that was touched. More specifically, the controlunit 17 registers the image displayed on the display unit 11 with theaddress book, and causes the display unit 11 to display information thatthe registration is completed (“image: cake.png”) (see FIG. 16B).

As a result, the mobile telephone device 1 can easily select a functionto be executed, simply by changing a position to be touched with afinger or the like. Moreover, the mobile telephone device 1 can executea function with a small number of operations.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, and can be implemented as variousembodiments.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the examples have been described, inwhich the functions are activated correspondingly to a direction ofmovement or traveling time of a finger or the like that touches thetouch panel 10 (the display unit 11), or the functions are activatedcorrespondingly to a position of a finger or the like that touches thetouch panel 10 (the display unit 11). However, the present invention isnot limited to the embodiment, and an appropriate function can beactivated by, for example, performing character recognition of aselected character string. For example, in a case in which a characterstring displayed on the touch panel 10 (the display unit 11) is selectedwith a finger, the control unit 17 performs character recognition of thecharacter string thus selected. As a result of character recognition, ina case in which the selected character strings is composed of numericcharacters of any of 3 digits, 10 digits and 11 digits, the control unit17 determines that the selected character strings is a telephone number,and activates the telephone function. As a result of characterrecognition, in a case in which the selected character string iscomposed of alphabetic character, or in a case in which the selectedcharacter string is composed of alphabetic characters and numericcharacters, the control unit 17 determines that the selected characterstring is a URL, and activates the web function to cause the selectedcharacter string to be input as the URL.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a display unitthat displays an object that is a character string or an image; adetection unit that detects contact with the display unit; and a controlunit that selects at least a part of the object in accordance with thedetected contact with the object by the detection unit in a state wherethe object is displayed on the display unit, and the control unit thatactivates a different function in accordance with a moving direction ofthe contact to the object, when the object is selected, and utilizes theobject thus selected in the function thus activated, wherein, in a casein which at least a part of the character string or the image isselected in accordance with detecting contact by the detection unit, thecontrol unit activates a different function in accordance with a movingspeed of the contact.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1,wherein, in a case in which at least a part of the character string orthe image is selected in accordance with detecting contact by thedetection unit, the control unit activates a different function inaccordance with a length of time required since selecting the characterstring or the image until releasing the contact with the characterstring or the image.
 3. The electronic device according to claim 1,wherein, in a case in which at least a part of the character string orthe image is selected in accordance with detecting contact by thedetection unit, the control unit activates a further different functionin accordance with an area of displaying the character string or theimage on the display unit where the contact was detected.
 4. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unitactivates a further different function in accordance with whether anobject selected in accordance with detecting the contact by thedetection unit is a character string or an image.
 5. The electronicdevice according to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which at least a partof the character string is selected in accordance with detecting contactby the detection unit in a state where the character string is displayedon the display unit, the control unit activates a further differentfunction in accordance with a type of the character string thusselected.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, in acase in which at least a part of the character string is selected inaccordance with detecting contact by the detection unit in a state wherethe character string is displayed on the display unit, the control unitactivates a further different function in accordance with whether thecharacter string thus selected is a numeric character string or acharacter string other than the numeric character string.
 7. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which atleast a partial area of an image is selected in accordance withdetecting contact by the detection unit in a state where the image isdisplayed on the display unit, the control unit activates a furtherdifferent function in accordance with whether the partial area is whichpartial area of the image thus displayed.
 8. A control method,comprising: a detecting step of detecting contact with an object that isa character string or an image displayed on a display unit; a selectingstep of selecting at least a part of the object in accordance withdetecting the contact with the object displayed on the display unit; andan activating step of activating a different function in accordance witha moving direction of contact with the object when the object isselected, and utilizing the object thus selected in the function thusactivated, wherein, in a case in which at least a part of the characterstring or the image is selected in accordance with detecting contact, adifferent function is activated in accordance with a moving speed of thecontact.
 9. A computer readable storage medium storing a computerprogram for causing a computer to execute: a detecting step of detectingcontact with an object that is a character string or an image displayedon a display unit; a selecting step of selecting at least a part ofthe-object in accordance with detecting the contact with the objectdisplayed on the display unit; and an activating step of activating adifferent function in accordance with a moving direction of contact withthe object when the object is selected, and utilizing the object thusselected in the function thus activated, wherein, in a case in which atleast a part of the character string or the image is selected inaccordance with detecting contact a different function is activated inaccordance with a moving speed of the contact.